The hike was lovely. Coming back to find my car window smashed and all my belongings gone (including my hairbrush!) was not so lovely. Be very careful here. Terrible way to end a visit from BC, Canada.

Although this 2.6 mile loop trail is within earshot of I-5, the sound of chirping birds will soon make you forget about the freeway noise. In addition to great birding opportunities, the trail offers good views of Mount Baker to the north and Mount Pilchuck and Three Fingers to the east. Several different types of wildflowers were also in bloom. Overall, the trail was in great condition; however, there were a few stretches that were slightly brushy. If you do head out this way, keep your eye out for the short spur trail through a grove of alders near the start of the trail. The spur leads to a short boardwalk that allows you to get even closer to the estuary.

I finally got out today to enjoy that strange warm bright thing in the sky :) Walked the Spencer Is. loop around noon. Was a nice walk- the trail is drying out, although there was still a bit of soggyness here and there. a lot of birds out including a couple of big cranes. saw salmon berry flowers in bloom, a good sized garder snake in the brush and a lone deer. only saw a couple of other people on the island, but more walking the trail to langus riverfront park. it was nice warm/windless outing.

After all the rain I had a good case of cabin fever. I settled on Spencer Island because I had never visited it and I was afraid the my other choices might be too sloppy to hike. It turns out it was a good choice. I parked at the waste treatment plant where about a half dozen others had parked. I was greeted by a pair of friendly hunters that had just finished their day. It's just a short walk to the bridge to start a nice easy walk. The tide was low and I decided earlier to use the Cross Levee, head north to see what was along Steamboat slough then double back and take the south loop for late afternoon pictures of the wetlands and mountains. I'm not a big birder but met a few very friendly ones and a few newbies to the trail also. All in all it was a nice relaxing walk. I want to go back to see how it changes with a higher tide and different seasons.

I wanted to get a hike in this week before the rains set in for the weekend, but I didn't feel like driving very far. Spencer Island is one of the few close hikes I've not been on and it won out in the end. The weather was partly cloudy and in the upper 50s F to low 60s F with a light breeze. Sadly, this park isn't cared for as well as you might hope one this close would be. The signage is faded and caked with mud and bird feces. The trails along the far end of the loop are overgrown, and the haphazard attempts at trying to keep it clear show. As for wildlife, I saw a dozen or so mallards, a handful of songbirds and a blue heron who was rather angry at my presence. I'm sure this is a much more entertaining hike in the spring or early summer when the plant life is in bloom and the waterfowl are nesting. There were still a surprisingly large number of ripe blackberries along the trail. After making my way back across the entrance bridge I had a fair amount of time before I had to leave to beat rush hour traffic so I walked the paved Smith Island Trail over to Langus Riverfront Park and back up the road to my truck. Its not really all that entertaining, but it would be nice for a short bike ride or hard-surface run along the river. I'll likely go back in the spring for wildlife and flowers, but in the fall this place isn't good for much other than a quick leg stretch.